Method of and apparatus for coiling filamentary materials



March 7, 1961 J. E. wlLBuRN 2,973,912

METHD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COILING FILAMENTARY MATERIALS Filed Oct. 31, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. J E. WIL BURN March 7, 1961 J. E. WILBURN 2,973,912

METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR COILING FILAMENTARY MATERIALS Filed Oct. 31, 1956 A 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 RA a/oAcr/V/ry Dare-cree FIG. 3

INVENTOR.

J. E W/LBURN BY CLC.

A 7' TOR/VEY March 7, 1961 J, E, wlLBuRN A 2,973,912

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COILING FILAMENTARY MATERIALS Filed 0G13. 31, 41956 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 NVEN TOR.

March 7, 1961 J. E. wlLBuRN 2,973,912

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COILING FILAMENTARY MATERIALS Filed oct. s1, 195s s sheets-sheet s 1N V EN TOR.

Q E. W/LBURN -F/aQ BVQQMEK A TTORNEY United States Patent-'Q METHOD OF APPARATUS 'FOR COILING FILAMENTARY MATERIALS Julian E. Wilburn, Parkville, Md., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. v31, 1956, Ser. No. 619,612

22 Claims. (Cl. 242-25) lengths and remove the radioactive splice members from the` finished product.

This application is a continuation-impart of my copending application, Serial No. 466,833, filed November 4, 1954, which issued as Patent No. 2,776,801 on January 8, 1957. y

In general, insulated electrical conductors are manufactured by means of a substantially continuous process in which a ilamentary metallic core is advanced continuously from a supply thereof through a series of treating apparatus and processesv to produce a finished insulated conductor, which is cut into `coils of predetermined lengths. of the metallic core through the apparatus, it is necessary to connect the leading end of another supply of the metallic core to the trailing end of the metallic core then advancing through the apparatus. Such connections are usually not intended to form a continuous length of the linished insulated conductor, and are not intended to be included in the coils. It is desirable, therefore, that the connection be located at the end of a finished coil so that it may be removed without reducing the length of the iinished insulated conductor contained therein. Other wise coils are produced which, after the conductor has been cut to remove the connection, will contain less than a minimum or usable length of the conductor.

Au object of this invention is to provide new and improved methods of and apparatus for coiling lamen- `tary materials.

A further object is to provide radioactive means and detecting means therefor to initiate means tocontrol such apparatus. j

Another object of this invention is to provide new and improved methods of and apparatus for coiling insulated conductors of continuous, indefinite lengths into tinished coils of predetermined lengths.

A still further object is to provide radioactive splice members in iilamentary material which are automatically detected and removed therefrom. y

A method of coiling iilamentary materials which illustrates certain features of the invention may include To maintain a` continuous su l PRY advancing one or more lengths ofa iilamentary material i longitudinally, coiling the advancing material into a plurality of coils each containing an identical predetermined length of the material until apredetermined amount of the material remains to be coiled prior to the end or a splice thereinpcoiling the remainder of the material into plurality of coils eachcontaning no more than the predetermined length of' material, and no less than a predetermined lesser length of material, and removing the splice from the ymaterial prior to'coiling the same.

'2,973,912 Patented Mar. 7, 1961 lCC vention may include means for advancing one or more lengths of a'tlamentary material along its longitudinal` axis, means for coiling up the advancing lilamentary material, means for normally intermittently terminating and reinitiating the operation of the coiling means to form a plurality of coils each containing an identicalv predetermined length of the material, and means re# sponsive to radioactivity for interrupting the normal coiling sequence when a predetermined amount of the material remains to be coiled prior to the end of the length or a splice therein. Means are provided for controlling the coiling means thereafter to form a plurality of coils each containing no more than the predetermined length of material and no less than a predetermined lesser length of material. Means responsive to radioactivity are also provided to remove the splice members from the filamentary material.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description of an apparatus and a method embodying the invention, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which: -v

Fig. l is a side elevation of a portion of a continuous extruding and vulcanizing apparatus embodying certain features of the invention, with .parts thereof broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. l, and extending to the left of the portion shown in FigQLvwith-parts thereof broken away; Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of a portion of theleft end ofthe apparatus shown in Fig. 2, with parts thereof broken away;

Fig. 4'i`s an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional View taken r alongline 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig.` 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevation of a portion of'the apparatus shown Vin Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevation of another portion ofthe apparatus shown in Fig. l except illustrating a splice in the tilamentary material; f

jFig. 7 is an. enlarged, fragmentary View of another portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, with parts l thereof broken away for clarity, and

' Figs. 8 and 9 combined constitute a schematic'representation of an electrical control circuitforming part.,v of the apparatus.

more individual. strands of material each of which may* be bare or covered with suitable material, vis contained upon a supply reel 11 rotatably mounted so `that tlie, ,f

The core 10 has af radioactive marker 133.(Fig. 7)Y placed at a predete`r` p 1 mined position with respect tothe leading end of the core as it is Vplaced on the reel 1l. f f method and apparatus of the present invention will op-14:1 f

core may be Withdrawn therefrom.

erate regardless of the length of material` on the supply reel 11, as long' as the radioactive marker 133 is Vplacedv v at a predetermined distance` from the -trailing end ofthe.

material being fed from the reel V11.

The application of theradioactive be made in For example; a radioactive. salt solution may be applied active marker may be applied by a bombardment of neutrons from neutron gun, or, may he applied by meansof a; welding.

rod which may v'be composed of suitable metal contain#k Y .in Figs, 1 and 2,y la core 10 l The specific, preferredV 'i 'A i marker 133'may. many ways and this disclosure is not tof be considered as' limitative of the method of application;

ing alloyed radioactive material. Various radioactive materials are suitable for alloying metals, for example, elements preferably giving E strong emanations of hard gama-rays, such as radium, thorium, and uranium and other naturally occurring radioactive elements as well as artificially activated radioisotopes such as cobalt (C060) may be used. `Other radioisotopes may be utilized, the species of which is dependent upon the life, type, and intensity of radiation required for the particular application or service for which the marker is to be employed. 1t is preferable that the radioactive material have a halflife at least comparable with the duration of the travel through ditferent stages of manufacture and be of material which will not be vaporized by the heat to which it may be subjected during the manufacturing steps, in order to prevent its loss to the surrounding material and atmosphere. The time elapsing between the production of the radioactive material and its actual use in the invention and other factors must necessarily be considered. It is necessary to make the marker of material which has detectable radiation through the various steps of manufacture and a material and daughter element which will not introduce hazards lto human life which cannot be reasonably safeguarded.

Some isotopes suitable for this purpose are antimony 124, which may be made from nonradioactive components and then irradiated in an atomic pile, and barium isotopes, which may be obtained by the fission of a heavy element in an atomic pile. The barium isotope has a half-life of 12.8 days and emits beta-rays along with 0.5 mev. gamma-rays. The beta-rays, being in the form of electrons, will not pass through material having a large mass such as a lead sheath on the strand while the gamma-rays having a comparatively short wave length will pass through material having a greater mass. Therefore, if the marker is to be used on lead sheathed strands, it should emit gamma-rays.

The core is withdrawn from the reel 11 by a capstan 12 driven in a countercloekwise direction by suitable driving means (not shown), vand passes around a guide pulley 14 positioned directly above the reel 11 on a support 15. The core 10 is then passed under rotatable pulleys 16 and 17, mounted on a support mounted at the base of a cutover tower, indicated generally at 18, and over a rotatable pulley 20. The pulley 20 is slidably mounted on the cutover tower by means of an endless belt 21 provided with a suitable counterweight (not shown) designed to ride in the vertical part of the cutover tower 18 and urge the pulley 2t) toward the top of the tower. Suitable braking is applied to the reel 11 by braking apparatus (not shown) so that a predetermined tension is exerted on the core 10 as it is withdrawn from the reel by the capstan 12.

The pulley 20 is normally latched in its lowermost position on the cutover tower 18 against the action of the counterweight, but may be positioned at the top of the cutover tower 13 to form a vertical takeup loop in the path of travel of the core 19 by unlatching it from the be of the cutover tower and reducing the braking force applied to the reel 11 until the counterweight overcomes the tension in the core 10 between the reel 11 and the capstan 12. The operator normally unlatches the pulley 20 just prior to the time the core 10 is exhausted from the reel 11.

The core 10 (Fig. l), after .passing around the capstan i2, advancesr therefrom through an extruding head 23 forming a part of a conventional screw-type extruding apparatus, designated generally by the numeral 24, which applies a vulcanizable covering around the advancing core It) to form an insulated conductor 25. The insulated conductor 25 passes from the extruding head through an elongated tube 28 containing high pressure, high temperature steam for the purpose of vulcanizing Vthe insulating covering as the insulated conductor 25 passes therethrough. The insulated conductor 25 passes i from the tube 2S through a tube, indicated generally at 30, which contains water under pressure to seal the steam in the vulcanizing tubes 28 -as the advancing insulated conductor 25 exits therefrom. The insulated conductor 25, thereafter, passes around a guide sheave 33 which reverses the direction of travel of the conductor, whereby the conductor now is traveling from left to right as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2.

The insulated conductor 25 (Fig. 2) now passes along a V-shaped trough 36 which is partially filled with coolj ing water to an air wiper 37 (Fig. 1) provided for the purpose of removing the moisture from the insulating Y covering of the insulated conductor 25. The wiped, in-

sulated conductor emerging from the air wiper 37 passes around a capstan 40, which in turn is driven in a clockwise direction by the same power means pro vided for capstan 12, -and thereafter travels from right to left over pulleys 43-43, under pulley 62, around a pulley 61 and around a pulley 6) which guides the conductor through a spark testing apparatus, designated generally by the numeral 58, of a well-known design similar to that described and claimed in W. D. Boynton et al. Patent 2,488,578, granted November 22, 1949. The insulated conductor 25 upon emerging from the spark testing electrode passes over a pulley 54 and travels downwardly and under a pulley 67 and then travels to the right to a pulley 44 rotatably mounted on a bracket 45 adapted to ride on a T-shaped rail 4S. The movable pulley 44 is adapted to form a horizontal expandable loop in the path of travel of the insulated conductor 25 as it travels from the capstan 4G through the remaining portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2. A drum 50 is suitably mounted on the apparatus and is provided with a steel cable 51 wound thereon, a portion of which is shown withdrawn therefrom `and connected to vthe bracket 45 carrying the pulley 44. The drum 59 is provided with an internal spring mechanism (not shown), which maintains a constant pull on the bracket 45 and continually urges the bracket 45 and the pulley 44 toward the righthand end of the track 48.

After passing around the pulley 44 (Fig. l) the iusulated conductor 25 continues moving to the left and passes under a pulley 53 (Fig. 2) and then upwardly and over the pulley 66 which guides the conductor through another spark testing electrode (not shown) which is mounted in the apparatus 53. The insulated conductor 25 travels from the latter electrode to a capstan 70 mounted in a housing 71 and driven by a torque motor 72. The capstan 70 serves to advance the insulated conductor 25 from the capstan 40 beneath knives 73 and 75 arranged to be actuated by solenoids 74 and 79 and then through a tube 76 which guides the conductor to a pulley 77 rotatably mounted on a traversing shaft 7S. A knife similar to 73 and 75 and a solenoid similar to 74 and 79 are described in detail and claimed in D. C. Robson Patent 2,604,942, granted July 29, 1952.

The insulated conductor 25 (Fig. 2) passes over the pulley 77 and then is coiled up by a coiling head 80 rotatably mounted on a stand 81 and driven by a motor S2. When the coiling head is rotated by the motor 82 to take up the insulated conductor 25, the traversing shaft 7S moves the pulley 77 transversely with respect to the rotating axis of the ceiling head 80 so as to distribute the conductor evenly on the coiling head. A secondcoiling head 84 is rotatably mounted on tbc stand S1 and arranged to be driven by a motor S5. A coil length counter, designated generally by the numeral 36. is arranged to be driven by the motor 72 so as to register the footage of the insulated conductor 25 taken up by the coiling heads 80 and 84. The second coiling head 84 is provided for the purpose of maintaining substantially continuous ceiling of the insulated conductor 25, wherein, as soon as the ceiling head in operation has coiled up a predetermined footage of the insulated conductor 25, the conductor is severed by the knife 73 and.

The motor driving the empty coiling head is energized and the coiling head coils up the insulated conductor 25 while the previously wound coil is removed from its coiling head. A cover `87 is pivotally mounted on the stand S1 so that it may be selectively positioned to enclose the operating coiling head, that is, the coiling head which is at the time rotating to coil up the insulated conductor 25. Coiling heads and a cover similar to the coiling heads 80 and 84 and the cover `87 are described in greater detail and claimed in E. D. Hanson Patent 2,561,736, granted July 24, 1951.

The coil length counter 86 (Fig 3) is a conventional length counter having at least units, tens, and hundreds wheels 90-90 arranged to be driven by the motor 72 so as to record the footage of the insulated conductor 2S being coiled up by the coiling heads. A cam 91 (Figs. 3 and 4), is secured to the hundreds wheel 90 and provided with live equally spaced lobes 92-92 about its periphery, each of which has an arcuate length Sudicient to bridge two digits on the hundreds Wheel 90. The cam 91' is ysecured to the hundreds wheel 90 so that each lobe 92 bridges a successive pair of digits consistingv of one even digit and one odd digit, so that digits and 1; 2 and 3; 4 and 5,'and etc. are bridged thereby. A roller 93 mounted on ya pivotally mounted arm 94 is urged to ride on the periphery of the cam 91 by a tension spring 95 secured to the free end of the arm 94 and the counter structure. The free end of the arm 94 is arranged to actuate the operating button'of a sensitive switch 96 positioned in the counter 86 to close a contact 97 (Fig. 9) momentarily each timethe cam 91 is advanced two digits, that is, each time an even digit is positioned opposite the window of the coil length counter 86.

The coil length counter 86 is provided with the usual mechanism for resetting the wheels 90-90 to their normal starting position, the reset mechanism being arranged to be actuated by the movement of a lever 107 mounted pivotally on the counter housing. The lever 107 is operatively connected to the armature of a solenoid S by means of a connecting link 109. When the solenoid 108 is energized, the lever 107is operated to reset the wheels 90--90 of the coil length counterS to their zero positions.

A second supply reel 111 (Fig. l), containing av length of core 110 similar to the core 10, is similarly mounted rotatably on a support so that the core 110 may be withdrawn therefrom and continuously advanced through the extruding and vulcanizing apparatus to the coiling heads 80 and S4 in the manner described for the core 10. When substantially all of the core 10 is withdrawn from the reel 11, the trailing end of the core' 10 from the exhausted reel 11 must be stopped temporarily so that it can be connected to the leading end ofy thev core 110 wound on the reel 111 in order that thecapstans 12 and `40, the extruding apparatus, and the vulc'anizing apparatus remain in continuous operation. The ends of the cores are connected or spliced to each other lby a suitable type of connector or splice member 105 in which the connector is connected to the ends of therespective cores and is o-r has` been rendered radioactive in the process of manufacture. Y

The radioactive connector or splice member- 105 may be made in many ways and this disclosure is not to be considered as limitative of the method of making the same. IThe splice member 1115 may be made by means of any suitable Vwelding material suchA as, a composition of metal containing alloyed radioactive material or plastic containing radioactive material depending on'the material to'A be joined. Thel splice member 105 may be molded or extruded from material by adding radioactive material to the material in` the fluid state, or may be madey in the conventional manner and rendered radio.-

` anism would actuate only when'the ampliiiedfrcurrlentf active before or* after it is used to connect' the core or strands together as was describedl with respect `to*` a" radioactive marker 133.V

A clamp, indicated generally at 112 (Figs. 1 and 5),' is mounted on the cutover tower 18 under the pulley 16 to clamp the trailing ends of theV cores 10 and 110 tightly n a groove of the pulley 16 to stop further advance-V ment thereof so that the opposing ends of thev cores 10 and from the two supply reels 11 and 111 may be connected together. The clamp 112 is arranged to be actuated yby a solenoid 113, the energization of which is controlled by a'normally open runout switch 114 (Fig. 6). The runout switch 114 is provided with a pivoted, spring-biased operating lever 115. Mounted on the free end of the operating lever 115 is a transversely extending elongated roller 116'. When a core, such as the cores 10 or 110, is-being withdrawn from the reels 11 or 1-11, itl engages the roller 116 and holds the operating lever in its pivoted, actuated' position. However, when the end of the core leaves its supply reel, the tension in the end of the core is lost and the operating lever 115 is released to its vertical position as shown in broken lines in Fig. 6. The clamping apparatus and the runout switch 114 shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6 are representations of apparatus somewhat similar to that described in detail and claimed in J. B. Gray III et al. Patent 2,650,772, granted-September 1, 1953.

The clamp 112 (Fig. 5) providedv onthe cutover tower 18, consists of an arm 117 secured to ashaft 118 rotatably mounted in a suitable manner on a support 119 carrying the. pulleys 16 and V17. `A shoe 120 is; secured on the shaftV 118 so that when the arrn 117 is actuated to its broken line position, as seenV in Fig. 5,the right end of the shoe 120 engages the core 10'and clamps-it tightly against the bottoml of the groove of the pulley 116. The solenoid 113 is mounted on a bracket 123 secured to` the support 119 and its plunger is connected to the end of the arm 117K by a-connectinglink 124. A spring is positioned between a point on the pulley support ofy the cutover tower andthe end ofthe' arm 11'7 so as `to hold the arm in-'itsV full line position, as shownin Fig. 5.

In'order that the presence of rays rradiating from the radioactive marker 133 may bejreadily observed, a detector, designated generally by the numeral 130, sensitive `to Ithe radiation is employed by converting the energy of the radiation into electrical energy. They detector maybe either an ionization chamber, a proportional counter, a Geiger counter, a Geiger-Mller type counter, or any other suitable device depending on the particular type of radiation employed. rThe electric current or pulses of'current created in the detectorY may be amplified by means of any suitable type of amplifier and the amplified current employed'to `actuate a relay or an electrical control ydevice thereby actuating the control circuit of the apparatus. The detector 130'm'ay be provided with an'absorptive shield 139 composed of sutlicient mass of substance suchas lead, to completelyenclose the detecn tor 130 except for openingsv136'on opposing sides there 'E of which permitsY passage of the strand which causes:

a radiationvin the radioactive marker thereon to fall directly on the detector 130.

or pulses of current. The current or pulses of current are amplified bymeans of the amplifier andthe amplified deiinite predetermined amount of current.

erator such as luminous Watch dials. v

A maximumY current relay maybe employedi ries with thev minimum current relay so; thatthe rlube from the-detector is withinspecitie minimuman The bombardment of an elee ment r138 of the detectorl 130 creates electric' current 1y afnameY mum limits for which the relays are set to operate. The detectors may be of the type which are susceptible to either beta-rays or gamma-rays or both beta and Agamma rays so as to distinguish between different type markers. The operation of the embodiment illustrated is as follows:

The penetrative radiation fromv the radioactive marker, as the marker moves past the detector, is directed so as to fall on the detector which is responsive to convert the radiation into electrical energy. The electric current or pulses of current created in the elements of the detector are amplified to a predetermined degree by means of an amplifier with a thyratron circuit to maintain the signal until shut off to insure that current relay 126 is energized. When the amount of the current output of the amplifier is of suicient magnitude to operate the minimum current relay 126, switch 131 is actuated to close its associated contacts 132 (Figs. 7 and 8) in the control circuit. The action of the relay 126 after energization and after it has closed contacts 1321er a predetermined time disconnects the thyratron momentarily to shut it H. causing the relay 126 to be de-energized and open up the contacts 132.

The radioactivity detector 130, such as a Geiger counter which is a well-known instrument for detecting high energy radiation (Figs. l and 7), is positioned adjacent to the capstan 12 and is designed to detect the radioactive marker 133 (Fig. 7) on the core 1G or the core 110 advancing toward the capstan from either the supply reel 11 or the supply reel 111, depending upon which of these reels the core is being withdrawn from at the time.

In operation, the detector 130 detects the radioactive marker 133 which is placed at a point 2,280 feet from the leading end of the core 10 or 110 as it is being applied to the supply reel 11 or 111, respectively, or 2,280 feet after a radioactive splice which has been placed therein. Therefore when a 2,280 foot length of the core remains on the then active supply reel 11 or 111 or prior to a radioactive splice member` a switch 131 is actuated by the radioactive marker 133 passing by the detector 130 to close the contact 132. 'When the contact 132 closes, it is held closed by the relay 126 for a predetermined period of time and then opened in preparation for a signal resulting from the next radioactive marker. Since the length of the path of travel of the core 10 or 110 between either the supply reel 11 or the supply reel 111 and the coiling heads 80 or 84 for this particular illustrated apparatus and preferred embodiment is approximately 920 feet, the total length of the insulated conductor remaining to be coiled into coils upon the ceiling heads at the instant the contact 132 closes is approximately 2,280 feet plus 920 feet or 3,200 feet. It should be understood that the detector could be placed at any predetermined location with respect to the ceiling heads and the marker can be placed at any predetermined position on the core 10 or 110.

The electrical `control circuit, shown in Figs. 8 and 9, controls the coiling apparatus automatically so that normally the coiling heads S0 and 84 coil up the insulated conductor 25 successively into coils each containing 1,000 feet or some other desired predetermined length. However, when the supply of the core 10 or 110 on the then active supply reel is nearly exhausted, the control circuit automatically sets up a predetermined sequence of coiling and cutting steps to divide the remaining length into coils each of which is not less than 800 feet and not more than 1,000 feet in length, or any other predetermined limits.

The electrical circuitA shown schematically in Figs. 8 and 9 comprises a pair of busses 150 and 151 which supply a single phase A.C. voltage to the entire control apparatus. The busses 150 and 151 are connected to two of three lines 154-154, whichare in turn connected to4 al three phase A.C. supply. Connected across the busses and 151 in series with the switch 96 is a solenoid 155 of a conventional sequential stepping relay, indicated generally at 157. The stepping relay 157 includes five contacts 160 to 162, inclusive, 164 and 165 operated sequentially by associated cams 166--166 mounted on a cam shaft 168. The cam 166 associated with contact 160 is such a size and shape so as to hold the contact 160 closed during an additional step of the relay 155. The cam shaft, designated generally by the numeral 165, is indexed rotatably step-by-step by means of a pawl and ratchet escapement device, designated generally by the numeral 170. Each time the solenoid is energized and de-energized by an electrical puise the pawl and ratchet device 170 is operated to index the cam shaft 168 one step.

The stepping relay 157 is designed so that normally all of the contacts 161, 162, 164 and 165 are open, while the contact 160 is normally closed. When a first electrical impulse momentarily energizes the solenoid 155, the contact 160 opens and the contact 161 closes. A second electrical impulse through the solenoid 155 will cause the contact 161 to open and the contact 162 to close. A third electrical impulse through the solenoid 155 will cause the contact 162 to open. A fourth impulse similarly closes the contact 164. A fifth electrical impulse through thc solenoid 155 opens thc contact 164 and closes both the contact 165 and the contact 160. The stepping relay 157 may be reset at any stage by energizing a reset coil 171, which is connected across the busses 150 and 151 through a series arrangement of contacts 172 and 174 -of limit switches, designated generally by the numerals 176 and 178, respectively (Fig. 9).

The limit switches 176 and 17S are mounted on the stand 81 supporting the coiling heads 80 and 84 so as to be actuated by the pivotally mounted cover 37. When the cover 87 encloses the coiling head 85), the contacts of the switches 176 and 178 assume their full line positions, and when the cover 87 encloses the coiling head S4, the contacts of the switches assume their broken line positions. When the cover 87 is at any intermediate position, thatis when it is not enclosing either the coiling head 80 or the ceiling head 84, the reset coil 171 is energized to reset the stepping relay 157 to its normal position in which only the contact 160 is closed. This is a result of the fact that the switch associated with the then active coiling head remains in the previous position until after the switch associated with the other ceiling head has been closed.

Each of the contacts 160, 161, 162 and 164, of the stepping relay 157 is connected to the bus 150 through a normally closed contact 180 of a solenoid-operated relay, designated generally by the numeral 182, and the normally open contact 132 of the switch 131 in the radioactivity detector 130. The relay 182 is provided with an operating coil 183, which is connected across the busses 150 and 151 through a normally open contact 184 of a solenoid-operated relay, designated generally by the numeral 185, and the normally open contact 132 of the switch 131 in the radioactivity detector 130.

The relay 182 is provided with a spring-loaded mechanism for latching the contacts thereof in the positions they assume when the coil 163 is energized, and with a reset coil 186 for actuating the latching mechanism to release the contacts to their normal positions. The relay is provided with ran operating coil 187 connected yacross the busses 150 and 151 through the normally open contact 132 of the switch 131 in the radioactivity detector 130.

When a normally open contact 189 'of the relay 182 is closed, it connects the ungrounded side of the primary winding of a step-down transformer, designated generally by the numeral 192, of a conventional step selector, `indicated generally at 195, to the bus 150 through a series arrangement of a normally closed contact 193 of a solcnoid-operated relay, designated generally by the numeral 9 261i, a lead 251, yand the normally opencontact 97 o1 the switch 96 associated with the coily length counter' S6. The relay, designated generally by the numeral 200, is provided with an operating coil 202, a normally open Contact 204 and a spring-loaded mechanism for latching the contacts 19S and 2114 in the positions they assume when the operating coil 262 is energized. A reset coil 207, when energized, actuates the latching mechanism to release the contacts 19S and 204 to their normal positions.

A plurality of solenoid-operated relays, designated generally by the numerals 210, 211, 212 and 214 are provided with operating coils 22), 221, 222 and 224, respectively, arranged to be energized by the bussesV 151B and 151 through the contacts 161i, 161, 162 and 164, respectively, of the relay 157 through the serially arranged, normally closed Contact 130 of the relay 132 and the normally open contact 132 of the switch 131 associated With the radioactivity detector 131i. Each of the relays 210, 211, 212 and 214 is provided with a spring-loaded mechanism for latching its associated contacts in 'the positions they assume when the operating coil of the associated relay is energized. The relays 216, 211, 212 and 214 are provided additionally with reset coils 2314, 231, 232 `and 234, respectively. `When any one of the coils 239, 231, 232 and 234 is energized, it actuates the latching mechanism of its associated relay to release its respective contacts to their normal positions.

The step selector 195 is provided with six banks designated A, B, C, D, E, and F, respectively, each bank having twenty-three terminals 2411-2411. Each bank of the step selector 195 is provided with ka brush contactor arm 242. The brush contactor -arms 242--242 are mounted on a co-mmon shaft (not shown) which indexes the brush contactor arms 242-242 in unison in a counterclockwise direction, step-by-step from one terminal .249 to the next terminal 240 whenever a momentary electrical impulse energizes and de-energizes an associated stepper coil 245. The stepper coil 245 is connected through a full wave, bridge rectier 247 to the secondary winding o-f the transformer 192.

Referring again to Fig. 8, it may be seen that the fifth, the tenth and the fifteenth terminals of the terminals 240-240 of bank A of the step selector 195, thev ninth and the fourteenth terminals of the terminals 24-240 of bank B, the thirteenth terminal ofthe terminals 2419-240 of bank C and 4the second, sixth,.eleventh and sixteenth terminals of the terminals 249-240 of bank D are connected commonly to a conductor249. rl`he conductor 249 is connected to the ungrounded side of the primary winding of the transformer 192 through a normally opened contact 254 of a solenoid-operated, time delay relay, designated generally by the numeral 256, and

bank E of the step selector 195. Reset coils 230, v23.1, K'

232 and 234 of the relays 219,211; 212 and 214, espeo tively, are each connected in parallel with the operating l coil 202 of the relay `200.V

The second terminal of the terminals 2411-246of bankl F of the step selector 195 is connected byconductors f 268 and 269 to the bus 151 in series with normally closed contacts 270, 271, 272 and 274 of relays 210,' 211, 212 and 214, respectively,'a normally open contact 281 of a solenoid-operated relay, designated generally by the numeral 232, and a parallel arrangement of the reset coilsV 186 and 207. The rest coils 156 and 207 vare connected in parallel with the operating coil 29) of a relay,`

designated generally by the numeral 291, when a no rmally open contact 295 of the relay 232 is closed. The operating coil 29) of the relay 291 is connected across the busses 150 and 151 in series with'the normally open Contact 165 of the stepping relay 157. A normally open contact 298 of the relay 291, when closed, connects the solenoid '74 across the busses 150 and 151 to actuate the knife 73V to sever the insulated conductor 25. The solenoid 10S which actuates the reset lever 167 of the counter 86 through the link 1119 is connected in parallel with the solenoid 74 and is energized each time the contact 293 closes. An operating coil 306 of the relay 282 is con-v nected across the busses 150 and 151 in series with a normally open contact 362 of a switch, designated gen-l erally by the numeral 304 and a ynormally open contact 3512.

A spring-load latching mechanism associated with a delay solenoid 360. locks the normally open "contact 352m a closed position whenthe contact'352 is operated' byan associated operating coil 356 of a relay, designated generally'by the numeral 355. The closure'of the contact 352 permits the coil 306 to be energized when the-'com tactv302 'is closed at such time as the switch 304 is actuated. The switch 304 is actuated by a radioactivity detector 350 (Figs. 2 and 3) similar to the detector 130 which is energized by the presence ofthe radioactive' y 314 is closed. The contacts 312 and 314 are connected' in parallel with each other, and are connected'in series with an operating coil 320 of a solenoid-operated relay,

a normally closed contact 250 of a solenoid-operated, l

time delay relay7 designated generally by the numeral 252. The relay 256 is provided with an operating coil 258 connected across the bus 151 and the conductor 249.

The relay 252 is provided with an operating coil 261) connected between the bus 151 and a point intermediate of the serially arranged contacts 250 and 254.'

The first terminals of the terminals 2411-246 of banks A, B, C and D, respectively, of the step selector 195 arevconnected to the bus 151) in series with normally open contacts 260, 261, 262 and 264, respectively, of the relays 216), 211, 212 and 214,respectively.Y The rst terminal of the terminals 249-249 of each of banks E and F of the step selector 195 are connected directly to the bus 150. The seventeenth to twenty-third terminals, inclusive, of the terminals 2411-2419 of bank E of the step selector 195 are connected commonly and in series with the normally open contact 2114 of the relay 200 and the ungrounded side of they primary windingv ofthe transformer 192. The operating coil of the relay 200 is connected at one side to the bus 151 and at the other to the commonly connected seventeenth to twentythird terminals, inclusive, of the terminals 240440 of designated generally by the number 322, and a normally closed contact 323 of a solenoid-operated relay, designated generally by the numeral 325, included in a motordriven timer, indicated generally at 326. An `operating coil 327 ofthe relay 325 is connected in series with a normally open switch 330 arranged to be actuated by a); f 'cam 331v driven by a timer motor 332 included inthel timer 326 and a normally open contact 329 of the relay 291. The cam 331 is spring biased to assumeits normal yposition when the motor 332 is de-energizedby the'sub-- sequentopeningof switch 329'. The series arrarngement,` y ofthe operating coil 327, the Contact 329 and the 'switchy l33t), is connected in parallelv with the operating coil 320y j v of the relay 322 and the. normally closed contact 323. i The relay 322 is provided withl normally open contacts the motor 72 335-335, which are arranged to connect to the three-phase` supply lines 154-154.

When the cover 87 encloses the coiling'h'ead S4, ,the 1 contact 172 assumes` the broken line position shown inl i v Fig. 9. VIn "this position, the contact 172 Vconnects* an operating coil 337 of a solenoid-operated relay, desigfj` nated generally by the numberal'333, across the busses 15o and rs1 through a ,normally closed Contact 33avr @fj-1d `thevrelay 251,. Similarly, when the cover 87j encloses A the coiling head 80, the contact 1 v 74 connectsanppe ing coil 340 of Va solenoid-operated relay, designate, ge

erally by the numeral 342, across the busses 150 and 151 through the normally closed contact 33,l ofthe relay 291. The relay 338 is provided with three normally open contacts 345-345 which, when closed, connect the motor 85 to the three-phase supply lines 154-154. The relay 342 is provided with three normally open contacts 347-347 which, when closed, connect the motor S2 to the supply lines 154-154.

Operation It will be assumed that the apparatus is already in continuous operation and that the core is being withdrawn presently from the supply reel 11, which initially contained 9,500 feet of the core when it was full.

It will be assumed further that presently there are more than 2,280 feet of the core 10 remaining on the-reel 11, that the insulated conductor has just been severed adjacent to the coiling head 34 and that the end of the insulated conductor 25 is ready to be secured to the coiling head 80. At this time the cover 87 is positioned so as to enclose the coiling head 84, which has just completed coiling a coil of the insulated conductor 25, 1,000 feet in length. When the operator has the leading end of the insulated conductor 25 secured properly to the coiling head 80, he moves the cover 87 manually to the position shown in Fig. 2 so that it encloses the coiling head Si), whereupon the limit switches 176 and 17S are actuated to the positions indicated by the solid lines in Fig. 9. As the cover 87 moves through its intermediate position before it en` closes the coiling head 80, the contacts 172 and 174 of the limit switches 176 and 178, respectively, which are connected in series with the reset coil 171, are both closed momentarily, since one doesnt open until after the other one closes, to complete the circuit including the reset coil 171, whereupon the reset coil is energized to reset the contacts 160, 161, 162, 164 and 165 of the stepping relay 157 to their normal positions wherein only the contact 160 is closed. Contact 16) remains closed as a result of the shape of the cam 166 associated therewith.

When the cover S7 finally encloses the coiling head 80, the limit switch 17S is actuated and the contact 314 closes, to assume the solid line position as shown in Fig. 9, to energize the operating coil 320 of the relay 322, which closes the contacts 335-335 to energize the motor 72. The closure of the contact 174 of the limit switch 178,

which is in series with the operating coil 340 of the relayV 342, energizes the coil 341i to close the contacts 347-347 to energize the motor 82. Thus, the movement of the cover 87 to enclose the coiling head 8) causes simultaneous energization of the motors 72 and S2, whereupon the capstan 70 advances the insulated conductor 25 fromv the capstan 40 and the coiling head 8i) coils up the conductor. The tension created on the insulated conductor 25 by the simultaneous operation of the capstan 70 and the coiling head 80 is suicient to overcome the spring mechanism provided in the drum 50, and the pulley 44 mounted on the sliding bracket 45 is drawn to its extreme left-hand position on the traclr 48.

When the motor 72 is energized to drive the take-up capstan 70, the coil length counter 86 is driven by the advancing insulated conductor 25 to register the footage of the conductor being coiled upon the coiling head 80. At the start of the coiling operation of the coiling head 80, the counting wheels 90-90 of the coil length counter 36 are positioned so that the zero digit of each counting wheel is positioned directly opposite the window of the counter, in which case the cam 91 is positioned as shown in Fig. 4. As the coiling head 80 continues to coil up the insulated conductor 25, the cam 91 advances with the hundreds wheel 96. Each time a 200 foot length of the insulated conductor 25 is coiled up, the cam 91 actuates the sensitive switch 96 to close the normally open contact 97 momentarily. v

When the contact 97 closes momentarily after the rst 200 feet have been coiled on the coiling head 80, the

all)

12 solenoid of the relay 157 is energized by an electrical impulse which indexes the cam shaft 168 to open the contact and close the contact 161. The closing of the contact 161 has no eect on the circuit at this time since the contact 132 is open. The coiling operation continues and, after 400 feet of the insulated conductor 25 have been coiled upon the coiling head 80, another electrical impulse caused by the momentary closing 4of the contact 97 by the cam 91 energizes the solenoid 155 again whereby the contact 161 opens and the contact 162 closes. When 600 feet of the insulated conductor 25 have been coiled up, the cam 91 again actuates the contact -97 Ito energize the solenoid 155 momentarily and thereby open the contact 162. When 800 feet of the insulated conductor 25 have been coiled up, the cam 91 closes the contact 97 a third time, whereupon the contact 164 closes through energization of the solenoid 155 and indexing of the cam shaft 168. Finally, when 1,000 feet of the insulated conductor 25 have been coiled upon the coiling head S0, the cam 91 closes the contact 97 again and energizes the solenoid 155 to open the contact 164 and close the contacts 160 and 165.

With the closure of the contacts 160 and 165, the operating coil 290 of the relay 291 is energized to close its associated contact 298, thereby connecting the solenoids 74 and 103 across the busses 150 and 151, whereupon the knife 73 is actuated to sever the conductor and the counter 86 is reset to zero. When the relay 291 is energized, it also closes the contact 329 and opens the contact 339. When the contact 339 opens it de-energizes the coil 340 of the relay 342, whereupon the contacts 347-347 open to disconnect the motor 82 from the supply lines 154-154 and the coiling head 80 comes to a stop.

Although at this time the insulated conductor 25 has been severed by the knife 73 and the motor 82 has been disconnected from the supply lines 154-154, the capstan 70 driven by the torque motor 71 continues to advance the insulated conductor, but at a decreased linear speed relative to that of the conductor leaving the capstan 40 as a result of the additional load placed thereon by the removal of coiling head 80. The difference between thc linear speeds of the insulated conductor 25 at the capstan 4i) and at the capstan 70 is tal/.en up by the pulley 44, which moves to the right due to the tension exerted thereon by the spring-biased drum 50 and thereby ex pands the loop in the path of travel of the conductor. The capstan 70 continues to advance the insulated con ductor 25 through the tube 76 so that the leading end of the severed insulated conductor may be secured to the empty coiling head 84.

While the energization of the coil 290 of the relay 291 serves to cie-energize the motor 82 to bring the coiling head Si) to u stop, the de-energization of the motor 72 driving the capstan 76 is delayed for a predetermined period. of time by virtue of tl e fact that the motor 332 of the timer, designated generally by the numeral 326, is not energized until the closure of the contact 329 of the relay 291. The timer motor 332 turns the cam 331 against the bias of a spring (not shown) until it closes the normally open contact 330 and thereby connects the coil 327 of the relay 325 across the busses 150 and 151. Energization of the coil 327 of the relay 325 opens the normally closedontact 323, which disconnects the coil 320 of the relay 322 from the busses 151i and 151, whereupon the contacts 335-335 drop open and disconnect thc motor 7 from the supply lines 154-154.

The timer 326 is adjusted to delay the de-encrgizatiou of the motor 72 with respect to thc de-energization of the motor 32 to permit the capstan 7S to advance a suicient length of the insulated conductor 25 through the tube 76 after the conductor has been severed by the knife 73 to permit the leading end or the insulated conductor 25 to be secured to the empty coiling head 34. When the timer 326 completes its predetermined cates that there are 600 feet of the insulated conductor 25 on the coiling head 84. At this point the contact 97 closes and again energizes simultaneously the solenoid 155 of the stepping relay 157 and the stepper coil 245, thereby indexing the brush contactor arms 242-242 from positions wherein they contact the eighth terminal of each of the banks A to F, inclusive, to positions wherein they contact the ninth terminal.

As shown in Fig. 8, the ninth terminal of bank B connects the operating coil 258 of the time delay relay 256 across the bus lines 150 and 151 through the contactor arm 242, the connection to the tirst terminal of the same bank and the closed contact 261 of the relay 211, which is latched in its operative position by its associated latching mechanism. Energization of the operating coil 258 of the relay 256 closes the contact 254 after a short time delay of approximately one second, thereby energizing the stepper coil 245 through the normally closed contact 250 of the time delay relay 252, and the solenoid 155 of the stepping relay 157 through conductor 201, contact 198 and contact 189. Simultaneously, the operating coil 260 of the relay 252 is energized and the contact 250 opens after a short time delay of approximately one second. The energization and de-energization of the stepper coil 245 immediately causes it to index the contactor arms 242-242 to positions wherein they contact the tenth terminal of each of the banks A to F, inclusive. The energization of the solenoid 155 of the stepping relay 157 closes the contact 164.

Meanwhile, the coiling operation continues and subsequently when the coil length counter 86 indicates that there are 800 feet of the insulated conductor 25 on the coiling head 84, the stepping relay 157 is actuated to close its contacts 160 and 165 and open its contact 164. The closure of the contact 165 results in the operation of the knife 73, which severs the insulated conductor 25. Thus, the operation of the coiling head 84 ceases when 800 feet of the conductor have been coiled thereupon. Each time the solenoid 74 is energized to actuate the knife 73, the solenoid 108 is energized simultaneously to reset the counting wheels 90-90 of the coil length counter 86 to zerof The operator again initiates the coiling operation after securing the leading end of the insulated conductor 25 to the now empty coiling head 80 by moving the cover 87 to the position wherein it encloses the coiling head 80. The operator then removes the S foot coil of the in-V sulated conductor 25 from the coiling head 84, and the operation of the coiling head 80 continues in the manner similar to that described in connection with the previous coiling operation. As a result, the insulated conductor 25 is again severed by the knife 73 when 800 feet have been coiled upon the coiling head 80. The coil length counter 86 is again reset simultaneously with the actuation of the knife 73.

At this point seven coils containing 1,000 feet of the insulated conductor 25 and two coils containing 800 feet of the insulated conductor, have been formed from the 9,500 feet of the core o1iginally on the reel 11 and there remain only 900 feet of the insulated conductor before the trailing end of the core 10 from the reel 11 reaches the coiling head 84. During the coiling operation in which the ninth coil is formed, it becomes necessary for the operator to connect the leading end of the core 1.10 on the supply reel 111 to the trailing end of the core 10 leaving the empty supply reel 11 by means of the radioactive splice member 105, so as to maintain continuous operation of the apparatus. lust prior to this time, the operator unlashes the pulley to allow it to form a vertical take-up loop;

When the trailing end of the core 10 leaves the reel 11, the runout switch 114 is actuated to its closed position, thereby energizing the solenoid 113. Energization of the solenoid 113 operates the clamp 112 to engage the trailing end of the core 10 and hold it tightly and im- 16 movably against the pulley 16. The coiling head continues to coil up the insulated conductor 25 while the clamp 112 is actuated whereby a substantial portion of the vertical loop which has formed in the path of travel of the core 10 around the pulleys 16, 20 and 17 of the cutover tower is absorbed. The operator makes the connection between the cores 10 and 110 by means of a radioactive splice member 105.

Thus, when the trailing end of the core 10 leaves the reel 11 and the switch 114 simultaneously closes, the operating coil 356 of the relay 355 is energized to lock in its contact 352, by the spring loaded latching mechanism associated with the time delay solenoid 360, permitting the coil 300 to be energized when the radioactivity detector 350 closes contact 302.

When the connection between the cores 10 and 110 is completed, the arm 115 is again depressed to actuate and open the runout switch 114 to de-energize the solenoid 113, whereupon the clamp 112 is released and the capstan 12 withdraws the core 110 from the reel 111. Contact 352 is held closed by the latching means 360.

At the completion of the ninth coil, which is 800 feet in length, the operator again secures the leading end of the insulated conductor 25 to the coiling head 84 and restarts the coiling operation by moving the cover 87 to the position wherein it eneloses the coiling head 84. At the start of this coiling operation, the contactor arms 242-242 of the step selector 195 engage the sixteenth terminal of the terminals 240-240 of each of banks A to F, inclusive. As the coiling operation proceeds and 20() feet of the insulated conductor 25 are coiled upon the coiling head 84, the contactor arms 242-242 are indexed to engage the seventeenth terminal of each of banks A to F, inclusive.

When the contactor arm 242 of the bank E contacts the seventeenth terminal, the operating coil 202 of the relay 200 is energized to open the contact 198 and close the Contact 204. The latchingmechanism associated with the relay 200 holds its contacts in this operative position. The seventeenth to twenty-third terminals, inclusive, of bank E are connected commonly through the contact 204 and the primary winding of the transformer 192 across the busses 150 and 151. As a result, the step selector 195 is stepped to its normal start position with the contactor arms 242-242 contacting the second of the terminals 24h-240 of each of banks A to F, inclusive. Simultaneously, the reset coil 231 is energized to disengage the latching mechanism associated with the relay 211, thereby permitting the contact 261 to open and the contact 271 to close.

Finally, when the radioactive connector 105 joining the two lengths of the cores 10 and 110 reaches a position opposite the knife 73, the radioactivity detector 350 similar to detector 130 detects the presence of the radioactive splice member 105. The detector 350 operates a solenoid similar to solenoid 126 to operate the switch 304 to close the contact 302. When the contact 302 closes, it energizes the operating coil 300 of the relay 282 to close the normally open contacts 281 and 295 to energize solenoid 360 to unlatch contact 352 allowing it to open. The closure of the contacts 281 and 295 energize the solenoid 79 which actuates a knife 75 to cut the insulated conductor to the left of the splice member 105, as viewed in Fig. 9. The closure of the contacts 281 and 295 also connect the reset coils 186 and 207 across the busses 150 and 151 through the closed contacts 270, 271, 272 and 274 of the relays 210, 211, 212 and 214, respectively, and the contact arm 242 of the bank F of the step selector 195. The closure of the contact 302 energizes the relay 291 through the now closed contacts 281 and 295 of the relay 282 to close the contact 298 to energize the solenoid 103, which resets the coil length counter 86 to its start position wherein the wheels -90 each register zero."

The radioactive splice member or connector as it was moved past the detector 130 closed the'contact 132,

. Length (in feet) of Insubut had-no elect on thev control circuit Ysincethe lcontact -180 associated with the solenoid 182 was'latched open by the latching mechanism associated with the coil 186. lThe closure of the contacts 281 and 295 of the relay 282 energizes the operating coil 290 of the relay'291, which closes theV contacts 298 and 329 and opens the contact 339. The closure of the contact 298 energizes the-solenoid 74, which actuates the knife 73 simultaneously with knife 75 actuated by relay 79 to sever the insulated conductor 25 on each side of the radioactive splice member 105 to remove and `drop the same into shielded box 140. 'I'he operation of the coiling head 84 ceases with 900 feet of the insulated conductor 25 coiled thereon. Thus, the desired result has been achieved, that is, vnone of the several coils produced Vcontains more than the maximum 1,000 feet of the insulated conductor 25, and none contains less than the minimum 800 feet of the conductor. The contact 302 reopens when the switch 304 is released as a result of the radioactive splice member 105 exiting from the detector 350.

After cutting the insulated conductor 25 at the connector, the operator secures the leading end of the linsulated conductor 25 to the empty coiling head 80 and moves the cover 87 to enclose it. Thereupon the lcoiling operation is again initiated and continues in the manner previously described (Le. forming coils containing 1,000

Yfeet of the insulated conductor 25) until the detector 130 again indicates that there are only 2,280 feet of the core 110 remaining on the then activesupply reel 111.

As may be seen from the schematic diagram of the electrical control circuit shown in Pigs. 8 and 9, the lengths Off the coils produced, after the `detector 130 signals that there are only 2,280 feet of the core 10 remaining before the connector at the trailing end thereof, vary but never exceed 1,000 feet nor are they ever less than 800 feet. Further, it may be seen from an inspection of the electrical control circuit that the lengths of the coils produced depend upon the footage of the insulated conductor 25 present upon the active coilingrhead 80 or 84 at the instant the signal is received from the detector 130,

lwhich in turn is dependent solely upon `the length Vof core initially on the supply reel. Setout below intabular form are all the possible combinations of coil lengths which may be produced after the signal is received from the counter.

Lengths (in feet) of Coils Completed After lated 'Conductor on the Signal from Runout Control Counter the Ceiling Head at the'Instant of Signal i f f from Ruliout Control Coil'l Coll'IIV Coil III 'CoilTV 'Co'ill7 yC'cn1i'.\.t =,r i A 0-199- 800 800 800 SOO-999 20D-399. 1, 000 800' 800 SOO-999 400-599 l, 000 1, 000 800 800-999 (SOO-799..." l, 000 l, 000 1, 000 800-999 f k BOO-999 80G-999 800 800 800 I 800 It may be seen that if at the time the signal is received f .mined lengthv and less than a greaterpredeterminedy I from the detector 130 the coiling head contains 800 feet or more of the insulated conductor 25, the knife 'i3 is y actuated` instantaneously.

To ,illustrate the signicance of this table, letvitfbe assumed that Vthe contact 132 closes at `a time when there are550 feet of the insulated conductor `25 on one of the 'coiling heads 80 and 84. The operation of the coiling headwill continue until the coil contains 1,000 feet of the insulated conductor 25, and the subsequentcoil (coil Il) will also contain 1,000 feet. However, the next coil (coil III) Will contain 800 feet, and they last coil (coil IV) will contain 950 feet of the insulated conductor 25 with A the connector at the trailing end of the last coil.

1f yit 'is assumedY that the coiling head being operated K contains 810 feet `of the. insulatedconductor 25 at the v .time when .the contact 132 closes, the coil in formation Will be terminated immediately and will contain 810 feet of the conductor.Y Each contain 800 'feet of the insulated conductor 25.v

Itshould be noted that oneradioactivity detector "3450 could be used instead of the two detectors 130,a'nd 350 10 or 110 instead of 2280 feet, in order to achieve the same results as in the illustrated embodiment. vIn that K event, the detector 350 should be connected `so as fto alternately close switch 131 and 304 in response to the radioactive marker 133 and the radioactive splice member 105, respectively. 'Y f .lt is obvious that the use of a detector sensitive `to radioactivity to actuate a knife or knives to rremove a radioactive splice member as taught by the present 'ine vention has very broad application, Iand could `be used in any apparatus where itv is desirable to locate and/or remove a splice lmember from a strand or similar elongated material.

It Will be understood Vthat the above-described methods and apparatus may be readily modilied to producecoils of other given lengths without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It will be understood further that the lamentary materials other than insulated conductors may be coiled utilizing the above-described methods and apparatus.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of coiling lamentary materials, whichl comprises introducing a radioactive marker at at least one predetermined location on the material, advancing a length of lamentary material having the radioactiver v 2. A method; of coiling filamentary materials, which'k comprises introducing a radioactive marker at at least one predetermined location on the material, advancing a length of iilamentary material which has previously been marked with the radioactive marker, coiling the advancing material, intermittently terminating and reininitiating the coiling operation in a 4predetermined sequence to form a plurality of coils, detecting the radio'-,l y

active marker at the predetermined location, terminating the predetermined coiling sequence -in response Lto' vthe l detection of Vsaid radioactive marker, and coiling there` l -mainder of the material to form a plurality of coils each containing a length of material greater ythan a predeterlength. k, v

3. The method of coiling iilamentarymaterials iin .predetermined lengths, which comprises introducing a radioactive marker' at'at least one predetermined locationuon the material, advancing a length of lamentary material having the radioactive marker therein from a supply thereof along a predetermined path, coilingvthe ymaterial kat the end of the predetermined path, intermittently terminating and reinitiating the coiling operation linl a predeterminedsequence to form coils each containingia 'l predetermined length of: material, detecting ,the radioactive markerr for determining when a predetermined amount of length of filamentary material remains tofbe coiled, terminating 'the predetermined coiling sequence in response to the detection of said marker, and lcoiling the remaining Vlength of iilamentary material intowa plurality of coils each containing a length of material greater than a predetermined length and less thank a greater predetermined length.

4. Thenmethod ,of coiling iilamentary materials which. comprises introducing a radioactive"marker-.ahnt'V one predetermined locatonon the material, advanc' of the four subsequentcoils length of flamentary material `having the radioactive marker therein along its'longitudinal axis, performing an initial series of coiling sequences wherein the advancing material is coiled into a plurality of coils, detecting the radioactive marker for determining when a predetermined amount of material remains to be coiled, interrupting the initial series of coiling sequences in response to the detection of the radioactive marker, and selectively performing another series of different coiling sequences depending upon the length of the partial coil in the process at the time of interruption of the initial series of coiling sequences for coiling the remainder of the material into a plurality of coils each containing a length of material greater than a predetermined length and less than a greater predetermined length.

5. The method of coiling tilamentary materials into predetermined lengths, which comprises introducing a radioactive marker at at least one predetermined location on the material, advancing a length of iilamentary material from a supply thereof along its longitudinal axis in an elongated path of travel, intermittently coiling the advancing material at the end of said path in a predetermined sequence into coils each containing a predetermined length of material, detecting the radioactivity of the marker for determining when a predetermined amount of said tilamentary material remains to be coiled, interrupting the predetermined coiling sequence under the control of said radioactivity detecting means when the predetermined amount of material from the supply remains to be coiled, coiling the remainder of said first length of material into a plurality of coils each containing a length of material greater than a predetermined length and less than a greater predetermined length, connecting the trailing end of said length of material as it leaves the supply thereof to the leading end of a second length of material from another supply `by means of a radioactive splice member to maintain a continuous supply of material to be coiled, detecting the radioactive splice member between the two lengths of material, and removing the splice member prior to the continuing coiling of the second length of material.

6. YThe method of coiling iilamentary materials, which comprises introducing a radioactive marker at at least one predetermined location on the material, advancing a length of ilamentary material having the radioactive marker thereon from a supply thereof along its longitudinal axis in an elongated path of travel, performing an initial series of coiling sequences wherein the advancing material is coiled into a plurality of coils, detecting by means of a detector responsive to radioactivity when a predetermined amount of said material remains to be coiled, interrupting the initial series of coiling sequences with the radioactivity detector when said predetermined amount of said material remains to be coiled, then selectively performing another series of dilferent coiling sequences depending upon the length of the partial coil in process at the time of the interruption in the initial series of coiling sequences, connecting the trailing end of said material to the leading end of a second length of material from another supply by means of a radioactive connection when the trailing end of said firstmentioned length of material is removed from the supply thereof so as to maintain a continuous supply of material to be coiled, simultaneously continuing said different coiling sequences to coil a plurality of coils each containing material having a length greater than a predetermined length and less than a greater predetermined length, detecting the radioactive connection between the lengths of material from each of said supplies by detecting means responsive to radioactivity, and automatically removing the connection between the two lengths of material to prevent the connection from being placed in any of the Aabove-mentioned coils.

7. Apparatus for coiling iilamentary materials having a radioactive marker at at least one predetermined location thereon, which comprises means for advancing a length of the tilamentary material along its longitudinal.

axis, means for coiling the advancing material, means for detecting the radioactive marker at said predetermined location for indicating when a predetermined amount of said material remains to be coiled, means for intermittently terminating and reinitiating the operation of the coiling in a predetermined sequence, means to form a plurality of coils, means responsive to said means for detecting for interrupting the predetermined coiling sequence when said predetermined amount of material remains to be coiled, and means for controlling the coiling means after said interruption to form a plurality of coils each containing a length of material greater than a predetermined length and less than a greater predetermined length.

8. Apparatus for coiling iilamentary materials having a radioactive marker at at least one predetermined location thereon into predetermined lengths, which comprises means for advancing a length of iilamentary material from a supply thereof along its longitudinal axis, means for coiling the lamentary material, cutting means operable for severing the lamentary material adjacent to the coiling means, control means operating a coiling means and a cutting means in a predetermined sequence so as to form coils each containing a predetermined length, means for detecting the radioactive marker at said predetermined location for indicating when a predetermined amount of said material remains to be coiled, means for interrupting the predetermined operating sequence of the coiling means and the cutting means in response tothe means for detecting said predetermined amount of said material remaining to be coiled, and a second control means actuated when said predetermined operating sequence is interrupted by said means for detecting for operating the coiling means and the cutting means to form a plurality of coilsY each containing a length of material greater than a predetermined length and less than a greater predetermined length.

9. Apparatus for coiling lamentary materials having a radioactive marker at at least one predetermined location thereon into predetermined lengths, which comprises means for advancing a length of iilamentary material from a supply thereof along the longitudinal axis of the lamentary material, means for coiling the lamentary material, counting means positioned adjacent the coiling means for indicating the length of said material advancing to the coiling means, cutting means positioned adjacent to the coiling means, means responsive to said counting means for operating the cutting means to sever the iilamentary material when said counting means indicates a predetermined length of material has advanced to the coiling means, means for terminating and reinitiating the operation of the coiling means each time the cutting means is operated in a predetermined sequence whereby a plurality of coils are formed each containing a predetermined length of material, detecting means for detecting the radioactive marker at said predetermined location on said material for indicating when a predetermined amount of material remains to be coiled, and means actuated by said detecting means for interrupting the predetermined cutting and coiling sequence and for controlling the cutting and coiling means to form a plurality of coils each containing a length of material greater than a predetermined length and less than a greater predetermined length.

10. Apparatus for coiling iilamentary materials having -a radioactive marker at at least one predetermined location thereon into predetermined lengths, which comprises means for advancing a length of filamentary material from a supply thereof along an elongated path of travel, means for coiling the filamentary material at the end of its path of travel, counting means positioned adjacent to the coiling means for indicating the length of said material advancing to the coiling means, an electrically opaman tra 21 erated cutter positioned adjacent lthe coilingmeans, electrical control means actuated yeach 'time thecounting means `indicates a predetermined length of material has advanced to the coiling means for energizing the cutter to sever theA lamentary material and `for subsequently terminating and reinitiating the operation of the coiling means in a predetermined sequence whereby a plurality of coils are formed each containing a predetermined length of material, radioactivity detecting means 1for detecting the radioactive marker at said predetermined location for indicating when a'predetermined amount of material remains to be coiled, and an electrical control means actuated by said radioactivity detecting means for interrupting the predetermined cutting and coiling sequence and for controlling the cutting and coiling means to form a plurality of coils each containing a length of material greater than a predetermined length and less than a greater predetermined length.

l1. Apparatus for coiling filamentary materials having a radioactive marker at at least onepredetermined location thereon into predetermined lengths, which comprises means for advancing a length of lamentary material from a supply thereof, means for coiling the tilamentary material, counting means positioned adjacent said coiling means for indicatingl thel length of lamentary material advanced to the coiling means, cutter means positioned adjacent the coiling means, an electrical control circuit responsive to the counting means for operating vthe cutter means to sever the iilamentary material and terminate the operation of -the coiling means in -a predetermined sequence each time said counter means indicates that a predetermined length vof the material has been advanced to the coiling means, means for reinitiating the operation of the coiling means, a radioactivity detecting means for detecting the radioactive marker at said predetermined location on the `material for indicating when a predetermined amount of the material remains to be coiled, a second electrical control circuit energized by said detecting means for interrupting the predetermined coiling and cutting `sequence and -for selectively initiating another series of different coiling sequences depending upon the length of material contained in the partial coil in process when said second circuit is energized, whereby the coiling means and cutting means are controlled to form a plurality -of coils each containing a length of material greater than a predetermined length and less than a greater predetermined length. A

12. In apparatus for coiling lamentary materials having a radioactive marker at at yleast one predetermined location thereon into predetermined lengths including a supply reel of the rilamentary material, means for advancing the Lfil-amentary material from the supply reel, a plurality of coiling heads for coiling the lamentary material, and a cutter positioned adjacent the coiling heads, the improvement which comprises primary control means for controlling the operation of the cutter and the coiling heads to intermittently sever the lamentary material and terminate and reinitiate the operation of the coiling heads in a predetermined operating sequence to form coils each containing a predetermined length of lamentary material, means -for rendering the primary control means inoperative when a predetermined amount of rlamentary material remains to be coiled thereby interrupting said predetermined operating sequence, a

radioactivity `detector for `detecting the radioactive marker v at said predetermined location for determining when said predetermined amount of lamentary material remains to be coiled, and a second control means initiated by said detector and operable when the primary control means is rendered inoperative by said detector for operating the cutter and coiling heads to perform a series of diiterent operating sequences depending on the length of the lilamentary material contained in the partial coil in process at the time the predetermined operating sequence is interrupted, whereby the cutter and coiling heads are length.

13. In apparatus for'coiling lamentary materialsfhavrv ing a radioactive marker at at least onel predetermined location thereon intopredetermined lengths including a suppllyreel containing a length of lamentarymaterial,

means for advancing the iilamentary material fromvithe supply reel along an elongated path of travel, a plurality of coiling heads positioned |at the end of said y:path of travel, means vfor driving the coiling -heads alternately for coiling the lamentary material thereon, and a ycut-ter positioned adjacent the coiling heads, theimprove'ment which comprises a coil length counter positioned adjacent the coiling heads for registering the length of lamentary material advancing to the coilingheads, primary control means responsive to the coil length counter for .operating the cutter to sever the lamentary material each time the coil ,length counter indicates that a predetermined length of the lamentary material has been advanced to the coiling heads, means for terminating and reinitiating the operation of the coiling heads driving means each time the cutter is operated, ydetecting means responsive to radioactivity for detecting the radioactive marker at y said predetermined location on said material for indieating when a predetermined amount ofthe iilamentary material remains to be coiled, means responsive to ,lsaid detecting means for rendering the primary control means inoperative when the predetermined amount of the iilamentary material remains to be coiled, and secondary control means operable when the primary control means Y is rendered inoperative `by the detector means for -controlling kthe operation of the cutter and coiling 'means to form .the remainder of the lamentary material into a plurality of coils each containing a length greater than a predetermined length and less than a greater predetermined length. Y 14.y Apparatus for removing connectors from filamentary materials being coiled comprising means for .connecting the adjacent ends of a plurality of lengths of lamentary material .together to form one length of iila-y mentary material, means for rendering said means for connecting radioactive, means for advancing the length of iilamentary material along its longitudinal axis, means Afor coiling 'the advancing filamentary material into a plurality of coils, detecting means responsive to radioactivity for detecting the radioactive connecting means, and cutting means responsive to said detecting means to sever said frlamentary material adjacent said connecting means to remove theV radioactive connect-ing means from the lamentary material beingy coiled. t

15. Apparatus for removing connectors from filamentary materials being coiled, comprising means for making.

a connection in lamentary material, means for rendering the connection radioactive, means for advancing the filamentary material along its longitudinal axis, means fory coiling the advancing lamentary material into a pilurality of coils, detecting means responsive to radioactiwty for detecting the radioactive connection, and cutting means responsive to said detecting means to sever said lamentary material adjacent said connection to remove the radioactive connection from the lamentary material being coiled.

Y 16. Apparatus for removing connectors from filamentary materials being coiled, comprising means made of radioactive material for connecting the adjacent ends of a plurality of lengths of flamentary material together Vto forrn one length of iilamentary material, means for advancing the length of iilamentary material along its longitudinal axis, means for coiling the advancing lamentary material into a plurality of coils, detecting means responconnecting means to remove the radioactiveconnecting means from `the iilamentary material beingcoiled.

17.'Apparatus for detecting connectors in filamentary materials being coiled, comprising means for connecting the adjacent ends of a plurality of lengths of lamentary material together to formlone length of lamentary material, means 'for rendering said -means for connecting radioactive, means for `advancing the length of lamentary material along its longitudinal axis, means for coiling the advancing ilamentary material into a plurality of coils, ,detecting means responsive to radioactivity for detecting a radioactive `connecting means, and means responsive to the detecting means for controlling the coiling means. 'r L l 18. The `method of coiling ilamentary materials, which comprises introducing a radioactive marker at at least one predetermined location on the material, advancingthe lamentary material along its longitudinal axis, coiling the advancing material into a plurality of coils of predetermined lengtheach priory to the radioactive marked location, detecting the radioactive marked location in the material yfor determining when apredetermined amount ofthe material remains to' be coiled, and coiling the remaining material into a plurality of coils each 4containing a length between maximum and minimum predetermined limits.

19,. TheV method of removing connectors from filamentary materials, which comprises connecting the adjacent ends of a plurality oflengths of lamentary material together to formone length of iilamentary materiaLTendering the connection radioactive, advancing the length of iilamentary material along its longitudinal axis, coiling the advancing lamentary material, detectingthe radioactive connection, cutting the lamentary material` 'adjacent to the ,radioactiveV connection to remove the radioactive connection from the lamentary material, and coiling `the remaining lamentary material.

20. The method of handling filamentary material, which comprises making a connection in tilamentary material, rendering the connection radioactive, advancing tions, severing the lamentary material adjacent the radioactive connections to remove the radioactive connections from the filamentary material, and' coiling the remaining iilamentary material. i s

22. The method of handling strand material, which comprises connecting adjacent ends of a plurality of lengths of tilamentary material together to` form one length of lamentary material, rendering the connections radioactive, advancing the formed length of fila mentary material along its longitudinal axis, coiling the advancing ilamentary material, detecting the radioactive connections, and controlling the coiling of the lamentary material in response to the detection of the radioactive connections.

References Cited in the tile of this patent `UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,394,324 Miller Feb. 5, 1946 2,456,233 Wolf Dec. 14, 1948 2,561,725 Boynton July 24, 1951 2,604,942 Robson July 29, 1952 2,605,052 Henning et al. e July 29, 1952 2,670,212 Heller et al Feb. 23, 1954 2,776,801 Wilburn Jan. 8, 1957 2,905,822 Peacock Sept. 22, 

